Monday, October 02, 2017

By Barbara Pronin How many red-blooded American kids wouldn’t trade an apple for a Twinkie? Unfortunately, not too many. But the good news is, fewer parents are packing junk food in their kids’ lunch boxes. In fact, according to the food editors at Good Housekeeping Magazine, today’s parents are on the hunt for lunchbox ideas that pack in nutrition but are also fun to eat.

First, go for eye appeal. Children are drawn to foods that are colorful and easy to eat, cut into cubes, rolls, or small pieces easily managed by small fingers – and many kids don’t like their foods or flavors to mingle. Try the bento-box approach, packing each ‘course’ in a separate container – or check Bentology.com for a selection of portion-perfect lunchbox containers.

Then use strategies like these to pack kid-friendly foods your little one will love – and eat:

Roll it up – Roll together thin slices of deli ham or turkey and cheese and spear each roll-up with a pretzel stick – or roll the meat around a piece of string cheese and tie it with a bean sprout ‘bow.’  Roll anything your child likes to eat – tuna salad, hummus, even peanut butter and jelly – in a tortilla. Cut the roll into thirds for easier eating.

Fill it – Make deviled eggs, mashing the yolks with a little mayo or pesto. Fill scooped-out cherry tomatoes with chicken salad or cheese; fill celery sticks with peanut butter.

Chunk it up – Try canned pineapple chunks, cubed watermelon or cantaloupe, strawberries, individual grapes, or mandarin orange sections. Pack carrot or celery sticks, zucchini or cucumber slices or small grape tomatoes with a little low-fat Ranch dressing for dipping.
Ditch the bread – Try putting their favorite sandwich filling between waffle quarters – or stuffed into a mini-taco shell. Pack whole wheat crackers, ‘goldfish’ crackers, or pita chips as a change from boring bread. Or pack their carbs into a fun-shaped pasta salad with snippets of colorful veggies and cheese.

Kabob it – Kids love anything on a stick. Try cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls, grapes and fruit squares, ham or turkey chunks with cheese cubes and grape tomatoes – or any combination of proteins, fruits or veggies you think will appeal to your child.

Snacks and treats – Bring on a smile with nuts and raisins, oat-based granola, or an oatmeal-raisin or fig-filled cookie.

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